Young golfers from Surrey are set to take on some of the world’s best junior players at a major tournament in Scotland this summer.

More than 500 players from 30 countries will compete at the 2011 U.S. Kids Golf European Championships in June – Europe’s premier tournament to showcase the next generation of golfing superstars.

The event will see some of the best young golfers from across the globe battling it out for the title of U.S. Kids Golf European Champion as well as coveted places in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina, later this year.

The 2011 tournament will see eight young players from Surrey competing on a series of historic links courses in East Lothian:

• Jeong Hyun Sim, from New Malden, who is competing in the boys 13s section • Lewis Brown, from Esher, competing in the boys 9s category.

• 16-year-old Danielle Ferry, from Dunsfold, who is competing in the girls 15-and-over category • Martha Lewis, from Weybridge, competing in the girls 11 section. A former Wee Wonders Championship runner-up, Martha is competing in her fourth European Championship.

• Elizabeth Prior, also from Weybridge, who is competing in the Girls 12 section. She will be joined at the tournament by her brother David, 16, who is competing in the boys 15-18 section.

• Loong To Pancoast, from New Malden, competing in the boys 11s category.

• Xavier Schwartz, from Virginia Water, who is competing in the boys 9s section. Last year, he was a top 10 finisher at the European Championship – finishing in 7th in his age group.

Dan Van Horn, President and founder of U.S. Kids Golf, said: “Since our inaugural event in 2008, the European Championship has continued to grow in strength and has now become one of the highlights of the junior golf calendar.

“Despite their age, the skill of these players is unbelievable and I am sure many of them will not only go on to become competent golfers, but possibly even the Lee Westwoods and Rory McIlroys of tomorrow.

“East Lothian is also a very special location for U.S. Kids Golf and the historic courses always provide a great challenge for all of our competitors.

“It’s great to see so many players from Surrey coming back to compete at this year’s tournament, which will once again be staged on some of the most stunning courses in the home of golf.”

The event – now in its fourth year - has been organised U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, which provides opportunities for children across the world to learn and play golf.

Kids aged from five to 18 will be challenging across five historic courses in East Lothian for the various age group European Champion titles at the event, which also aims to promote the sport among children and families, as well as giving young players the chance to forge lifelong friendships through the game of golf.

The tournament over May 31-June 2 will take place on five historic courses - Gullane No. 2, Gullane No. 3, Craigielaw Golf Club, Luffness New Golf Club and Longniddry Golf Club - which are modified for each age group in order to provide the same level challenge, meaning holes are progressively shorter as the age groups get younger.

It ultimately allows the players to reach the greens in the same number of strokes as the top pros on the PGA tour.

The top finishers in each category will compete in the Van Horn Cup over Gullane No 1 – a showpiece event, modelled on the Ryder Cup, where the best European players are matched up against the top golfers from the rest of the world.

The top five finishers in each age and gender group also automatically receive an invitation to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina, in August.